Engineering Worksheet: Strong Shapes

Engineering lesson 17: Strong shapes: triangles, arches and beams · Set 168 · 40 questions

Engineer's tip (Triangles stay put): Triangles are rigid; trusses, towers and frames use them. A pin-jointed frame with n sides needs n − 3 corner-to-corner braces; a row of n triangles uses 2n + 1 straws. Arches squeeze (compression); beams span gaps; domes are arches turned round in a circle.

1. 1.True or false: a truss bridge side uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
2. 2.True or false: a crane arm uses a dome. (a) False (b) True
3. 3.🔺 A beam bends under a load. Its top side is … (a) stretched (tension) (b) squeezed (compression) (c) floating (d) not affected
4. 4.🔺 Which shape keeps its shape best when its corners are pinned? (a) rectangle (b) hexagon (c) triangle (d) square
5. 5.🔺 Which strong shape does an old stone bridge use? (a) dome (b) triangle (c) beam (d) arch
6. 6.True or false: a crane arm uses an arch. (a) True (b) False
7. 7.🔺 Which strong shape does a bicycle frame use? (a) dome (b) arch (c) triangle (d) beam
8. 8.Which of these uses an arch? (a) a fort gateway (b) a round palace roof (c) a planetarium roof (d) an igloo
9. 9.True or false: a slab over a canal uses a beam. (a) False (b) True
10. 10.🔺 A flat frame has 4 straight sides joined by loose pins at the corners. What is the least number of corner-to-corner braces needed to make it rigid?
11. 11.🔺 Which strong shape does a roof truss use? (a) arch (b) beam (c) triangle (d) dome
12. 12.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a fort gateway (b) a planetarium roof (c) a roof truss (d) a slab over a canal
13. 13.🔺 Which strong shape does a shelf on two brackets use? (a) triangle (b) beam (c) arch (d) dome
14. 14.🔺 How do engineers stop a square frame from wobbling? (a) make it bigger (b) take off a side (c) paint it (d) add a diagonal brace
15. 15.🔺 One side of a straw bridge is a row of 5 triangles standing point-up and point-down in turn, each sharing a side with the next. How many straws does it use?
16. 16.🔺 One side of a straw bridge is a row of 15 triangles standing point-up and point-down in turn, each sharing a side with the next. How many straws does it use?
17. 17.True or false: a slab over a canal uses an arch. (a) False (b) True
18. 18.🔺 A frame shaped like a square is made of straws joined by loose pins, with 0 corner-to-corner braces. Is it rigid or wobbly? (a) wobbly (b) rigid
19. 19.True or false: a truss bridge side uses a dome. (a) False (b) True
20. 20.🔺 Why can an arch carry heavy loads? (a) it is hollow (b) it works in compression (c) it bends easily (d) it is very light
21. 21.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a slab over a canal (b) a crane arm (c) a lintel over a door (d) a round palace roof
22. 22.🔺 Which strong shape does a lintel over a door use? (a) arch (b) triangle (c) beam (d) dome
23. 23.🔺 A flat frame has 6 straight sides joined by loose pins at the corners. What is the least number of corner-to-corner braces needed to make it rigid?
24. 24.🔺 Which strong shape does a slab over a canal use? (a) triangle (b) dome (c) beam (d) arch
25. 25.🔺 One side of a straw bridge is a row of 3 triangles standing point-up and point-down in turn, each sharing a side with the next. How many straws does it use?
26. 26.True or false: a fort gateway uses a beam. (a) True (b) False
27. 27.Which of these uses triangles? (a) a lintel over a door (b) an electric pylon (c) a fort gateway (d) a slab over a canal
28. 28.True or false: a lintel over a door uses triangles. (a) False (b) True
29. 29.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a lintel over a door (b) a bicycle frame (c) a planetarium roof (d) a fort gateway
30. 30.🔺 A flat frame has 9 straight sides joined by loose pins at the corners. What is the least number of corner-to-corner braces needed to make it rigid?
31. 31.🔺 A frame shaped like a triangle is made of straws joined by loose pins, with 0 corner-to-corner braces. Is it rigid or wobbly? (a) rigid (b) wobbly
32. 32.🔺 One side of a straw bridge is a row of 14 triangles standing point-up and point-down in turn, each sharing a side with the next. How many straws does it use?
33. 33.🔺 A frame shaped like a square is made of straws joined by loose pins, with 1 corner-to-corner brace. Is it rigid or wobbly? (a) rigid (b) wobbly
34. 34.🔺 A flat frame has 8 straight sides joined by loose pins at the corners. What is the least number of corner-to-corner braces needed to make it rigid?
35. 35.Which of these uses a dome? (a) a fort gateway (b) a round palace roof (c) a slab over a canal (d) an electric pylon
36. 36.🔺 Which strong shape does a round palace roof use? (a) triangle (b) arch (c) beam (d) dome
37. 37.🔺 A frame shaped like a pentagon is made of straws joined by loose pins, with 0 corner-to-corner braces. Is it rigid or wobbly? (a) wobbly (b) rigid
38. 38.🔺 A frame shaped like a pentagon is made of straws joined by loose pins, with 2 corner-to-corner braces. Is it rigid or wobbly? (a) wobbly (b) rigid
39. 39.True or false: an igloo uses a dome. (a) False (b) True
40. 40.True or false: an electric pylon uses a beam. (a) True (b) False

Free engineering lessons, practice and worksheets at talentjr.in/engineering-for-kids